City council discusses future building replacements, repairs

Spartanburg City Manager Ed Memmott candidly told council during its meeting Monday that he had good and bad news regarding the city's building facilities.

By LYNNE P. SHACKLEFORDlynne.shackleford@shj.com

Spartanburg City Manager Ed Memmott candidly told council during its meeting Monday that he had good and bad news regarding the city's building facilities.The 30 city-owned buildings, including airport hangars, recreation centers, garages and others, have more than $22 million in combined maintenance needs including heating and air conditioning unit replacements, building envelope needs, elevators and roofs. In short, it would take $22 million to bring all current buildings completely up-to-date.However, removing the T.K. Gregg Recreation Center and Swim Center from the city's portfolio this year brings that figure down to about $16 million, of which City Hall takes about half of that figure, Memmott said.City Hall, which is 54 years old and also serves as the police command center and central fire station, presents various challenges including new heating and air conditioning units, a new roof in the next few years and it needs a new generator. Memmott said it could be possible to consolidate the main and an area fire station, such as one on the Northside or Southside, in the future.Memmott said immediate needs include a new generator ($100,000), to replace a World War II-era generator that was moved from the old City Hall to the current location ($15,000), and back-up cooling for the information technology (IT) room and roof repairs projected in the next three years or so ($250,000).“We have patched and patched the roof so we anticipate needing a new roof to keep the building functional,” Memmott said.Memmott also had good news to report: repairs to Kennedy, Magnolia and Dunbar Street garages will be completed this summer and came in at lower than projected cost. Kennedy Street repairs, which include new elevators, fire alarm system, caulking, lighting and other upgrades, are complete and the other two will receive an estimated $200,000 in work set to begin this summer.Memmott gave his report in preparation of the 2014 fiscal year budget discussions. The budget year begins on July 1 and council will consider building maintenance needs as it looks at how much to allocate for anticipated costs.Last year, council budgeted $220,000 for building maintenance needs — the first time council had specifically allocated funds for those needs.The fleet maintenance garage on Union Street, which was built in the 1960s, needs an estimated $250,000 in work during the next five years, Memmott said.

Two airport terminal hangars are in need of repairs and Memmott said staff will carefully evaluate the rent and other fuel sales generated by the hangar tenants to determine whether it will be profitable to renovate the hangars, which have combined repairs of $450,000.Memmott presented council with a five-year table of expected repairs, which he called a “keep it functioning plan.”Councilwoman Cate Ryba said it appeared that the current City Hall would remain operational for some time, at least the next 10 years, and said she hoped staff could look at adding directional signage and attractive lighting fixtures to make people more excited about coming to City Hall.Memmott said the city has available debt capacity, which could be used for a new facility, but said staff could take some relatively inexpensive measures to “jazz (City Hall) up.”“On the opposing end, I would like to see us look at the future for a new City Hall,” Councilman Jerome Rice said. “I understand we are using Band-aids now, but every little bit could go in the pot for a new.”In other business, council agreed to allow Engineering Administrator Tim Carter to seek bids for sidewalk repairs. Carter said most of the city's sidewalks are more than 75 years old and some, specifically on Arch Street and Highland, South Converse and Mills avenues, have serious safety issues and need spot repairs that are expected to cost about $50,000.Other streets, such as Old Charlotte Road, South Spring Street and Caulder Avenue, will be added as funding becomes available.Sidewalk repairs are costly, Carter said. For example, it would take about $150,000 to replace one mile of existing sidewalk. About 40 percent of city streets don't have sidewalks, Carter said.Previously, Memmott said, sidewalk repairs were handled by the city's public works department, but it was expensive and time-consuming.Parks and Recreation Manager Kim Moultrie and Special Events Manager Mandy Merck gave overviews of upcoming events and project.

Moultrie said the city has several partnerships and on-going programs, but hopes to expand programming to include Art in the Parks, special needs programming, Duncan Park programs, park scavenger hunts, recycling in the parks and girls' softball.